Photobooth with improved accessibility and optical characteristics

ABSTRACT

In a photographic apparatus ( 1 ), there are included a housing ( 11 ) consisting of a pair of side panels ( 13, 14 ) and a top panel ( 15 ) provided contiguously to the side panels ( 13, 14 ) in pair, these panels defining together a photo compartment ( 16 ) in the housing ( 11 ), a photographic unit ( 17 ) provided at the rear side of the housing ( 11 ) to take a picture of an object person inside the photo compartment ( 16 ), printers ( 18, 19 ) installed to the housing ( 11 ) to print an image of the object person, captured by the photographic unit ( 17 ), onto a photographic paper and eject the photographic paper having the object image printed thereon to a photo outlet ( 38 ), and a curtain ( 33 ) provided, by hanging, on the top panel ( 15 ) at the front side, opposite to the rear side, of the housing ( 11 ) to face the photographic unit ( 17 ). One ( 13 ) of the side panels ( 13, 14 ) is formed narrower than the other ( 14 ). The housing ( 11 ) is generally flush, at the bottom thereof, with the floor surface. The area extending from the front end of the housing ( 11 ) to that of the narrower side panel ( 13 ) is an entrance ( 23 ) for the object person entering the photo chamber ( 16 ). Because of this wide entrance ( 23 ), even a person sitting on a wheelchair or using any other aid can easily enter the photo compartment ( 16 ) for photography.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a photographic apparatus for anidentification picture etc.

This application claims the priority of the Japanese Patent ApplicationNo. 2002-103039 filed on Apr. 4, 2002, the entirety of which isincorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND ART

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a conventional photographic, generallyindicated with a reference number 100, for an identification picture. Asshown, the photographic apparatus 100 consists of a generallyrectangular housing 101 having a photo compartment 102 defined therein.The housing 101 has built therein a photographic unit 103 to take apicture of a person as an object (will be referred to as “object person”hereinafter) having entered the photo compartment 102, and a printer 104to print out a picture taken by the photographic unit 103.

Also, the housing 101 has an entrance 105 for access to inside the photocompartment 102. The entrance 105 is provided with a shade curtain 106.The photo compartment 102 has provided therein a chair 107 on which anobject person sits. In addition, the photographic apparatus 100 hasprovided therein an illuminating device 109 to illuminate the objectperson. Also, a coin slot and safe (not shown), etc., are provided inthe photographic apparatus 100.

When an object person enters the photo compartment 102 of thephotographic apparatus 100 through the entrance 105 and sits down on thechair 107, the photographic unit 103 is ready for taking a picture ofthe object person. Then, a flash photography is made of the objectperson sitting on the chair 107 and the printer 104 prints out thecaptured image data.

In the field of medicine, however, medical personnel such as a doctor,nurse or the like has to identify each of their patients by a medicalrecord, registration card or the like of the patient. On this account, afacial portrait is attached on such a medical record or registrationcard to prevent the medical personnel from mixing up their patients andtaking a wrong procedure to the patient in question. The photographicapparatus 100 is used to make a facial portrait which is to be attachedon the medical record or registration card.

Patients include ones needing a wheelchair or axillary crutches to move.The aforementioned conventional photographic apparatus 100 cannot besaid to be suitable for such patients. That is, there is a step 108between the entrance 105 and a floor surface 110 on which the apparatus100 is installed, and the entrance 105 is designed as narrow as possibleto minimize external light coming into the photo compartment 102. Apatient using a wheelchair or axillary crutches cannot easily enter thephoto compartment 102 because the step 108 and narrow entrance 105 willbe obstacles to such a patient.

Also, since the chair 107 is provided in the photo compartment 102 ofthe conventional photographic apparatus 100, a patient on a wheelchairhas to move himself or herself from the wheelchair to the chair 107,which is very hard for the patient. Also, since the photo compartment102 of the photographic apparatus 100 is designed to have only anecessary space for shooting a person sitting on the chair 107, it ishard for the attendant of such a handicapped patient to go along withthe patient into the photo compartment 102 for assisting the patientduring photography and operating the photographic unit 103 for thepatient.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome theabove-mentioned drawbacks of the related art by providing a booth-typephotographic apparatus permitting even a handicapped person on awheelchair or using any other aid to easily take an identificationpicture of himself or herself.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographicapparatus easy to be operated also by the attendant or the like of anobject person.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a photographicapparatus used for the above purpose and which can be installed stablyon a floor surface or the like.

The above object can be attained by providing a photographic apparatusincluding, according to the present invention, a housing formed from apair of side panels and a top panel provided between the side panels inpair and having a photo compartment defined therein; a photographicmeans installed at the rear side of the housing for imaging an objectinside the photo compartment; a printing means installed on the housingfor printing the object image, captured by the photographic means, ontoa photographic paper and ejecting the object image-printed photographicpaper to an outlet; and a shading member installed, by hanging, to thetop panel at the front side, opposite to the rear side, of the housingto face the photographic means, one of the side panels in pair of thehousing being formed narrower than the other and the bottom of thehousing being formed generally flush with a floor surface on which theapparatus is to be installed; and the area extending from the front endof one of the side panels to that of the other being used as an entrancethrough which the object is to enter the photo compartment.

Also the above object can be attained by providing a photographicapparatus including, according to the present invention, a housingformed from a pair of side panels and a top panel provided between theside panels in pair, one of the side panels in pair of the housing beingformed narrower than the other, the bottom of the housing being formedgenerally flush with a floor surface on which the apparatus is to beinstalled, a photo compartment being defined inside the housing, and thearea extending from the front end of one of the side panels to that ofthe other being used as an entrance through which the object is to enterthe photo compartment; a photographic means installed at the rear sideof the housing for imaging an object inside the photo compartment; aprinting means installed on the housing for printing the object image,captured by the photographic means, onto a photographic paper andejecting the object image-printed photographic paper to an outlet; ashading member installed, by hanging, to the top panel at the front sideof the housing opposite to close the entrance to the photo compartment;and an operating means installed, near the photographic means, on one ofthe side panels of the housing.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will become more apparent from the following detaileddescription of the best mode for carrying out the present invention whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the conventional photographic apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the photographic apparatus according tothe present invention from the front side.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the photographic apparatus in FIG. 2from the rear side.

FIG. 4 is a perspective plan view of the photographic apparatus in FIG.2.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a pair of illuminating devices, right and left,provided in the photo compartment.

FIG. 6 explains a picture taken by the conventional method, that is, byilluminating the object obliquely from the upper front of him.

FIG. 7 explains a picture taken by illuminating the object obliquelyfrom the front right and left of him or her by the pair of illuminatingdevices in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a view from the front side of the photographic apparatus withthe curtain being closed.

FIG. 9A is a plan view of a mechanism for supporting the chairpivotably, and FIGS. 9B and 9C are a front view and side elevation,respectively, of the mechanism.

FIG. 10 is a side elevation of the chair being lifted up to midway bythe pivoting support mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a plan view of the chair in an out-of-use position.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of a control circuit included in thephotographic apparatus.

FIG. 13 shows a flow of operations of the control circuit.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of another example of the pivoting supportmechanism.

FIG. 15 is a side elevation of the variant of the pivoting supportmechanism.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The photographic apparatus according to the present invention will bedescribed in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 4, there is schematically illustrated anembodiment of the photographic apparatus according to the presentinvention, generally indicated with a reference number 1. Thisphotographic apparatus 1 is of a booth type to be installed in ahospital or the like for making a facial portrait of a patient or thelike. As shown, the photographic apparatus 1 (will be referred to as“photo booth” hereinafter) includes a housing 11 as a main body. Thehousing 11 consists of a rear panel 12, side panels 13 and 14 providedoppositely to each other and at opposite lateral ends of the rear panel12, and a top panel 15 provided between the side panels 13 and 14 and atthe tops of the latter panels to cover the opening between the sidepanels 13 and 14 and form a ceiling of the housing 11. Thus, the rearpanel 12, pair of side panels 13 and 14 and the top panel 15 definetogether a photo compartment 16.

A person as an object (will be referred to as “object person”hereinafter) having entered the photo compartment 16 will be facing therear panel 12. Inside the rear panel 12, there are provided anphotographic unit 17 to take a picture of the object person, printers 18and 19 to print the picture taken by the photographic unit 17, an imageprocessing circuit to convert image signal outputs from the photographicunit 17 from analog to digital, a main circuit board 21 havingincorporated therein various electric circuits such as a control circuitto provide a system control, etc.

The above photographic unit 17 includes an image pick-up unit 17 ahaving an imaging device such as a CCD (charge-coupled device), ahalf-mirror 17 b provided on a surface of the photo compartment 16,opposite to an object person, and a light reflector 17 c to reflectlight allowed to pass through the half-mirror 17 b. When taking apicture of the object person, the half-mirror 17 b reflects light fromthe object person in a predetermined amount with which the object personcan see his or her own face, and allows the remainder of the light topass through. Thus, the image pick-up unit 17 a can capture an image ofthe object person.

The light having passed through the half-mirror 17 b is reflected by thelight reflector. 17 c toward the image pick-up unit 17 a which will thustake a picture of the object person. An output from the image pick-upunit 17 a is supplied to the image processing circuit in the maincircuit board 21 where it will digitally be processed and the resultingdigital data be provided as an output to the printer 18 or 19.

The first one (18) of the printers 18 and 19 is a main printer normallyused, while the second printer 19 is an auxiliary printer which is to beused when the first printer 18 is out of order. The digital dataresulted from the digital processing of the image is supplied to thefirst or second printer 18 or 19 where it will be printed onto aphotographic paper. In addition, a power switch 20 a, a safe (cash box)20 b, etc. are provided inside the rear panel 12 of the housing 11.

The side panels 13 and 14 are provided integrally with the rear panel 12and nearly parallel to each other. The rear panel 12, side panels 13 and14 are formed from a relatively heavy material such as steel plate sothat the housing 11 is heavy at the lower portion thereof and can beinstalled stably on the floor surface 2.

One (13) of the side panels 13 and 14 is formed narrower than the otherside panel 14. The housing 11 is installed with the wider side panel 14placed along any wall of a room where the photo booth 1 is installed.The narrower side panel 13 has provided thereon an overturn-preventivemember 22 which is to be connected to the floor surface 2. To preventthe housing 11 from being falling down when pressed from the side of theside panel 13, the overturn-preventive member 22 is screwed or otherwisesecured to the floor surface 2 and side wall 13. The other side panel14, formed wider than the side panel 13, can well support the housing 11even when it is pressed from the side of the side panel 13.

The top panel 15 provided between the side panels 13 and 14 provides aceiling of the photo compartment 16. It is formed to have a lengthgenerally equal to, or somewhat larger than, the width of the wide sidewall 14. According to the present invention, the top panel 15 is formedfrom a resin plate such as polypropylene or the like. That is, the toppanel 15 is formed from a material smaller in specific gravity than thematerial of the side panels 13 and 14. The circumference, including theside panels 13 and 14, of the housing 11 is formed from a materialhaving a relatively larger specific gravity, such as steel plate or thelike, while the top panel 15 provided at the top of the housing 11 isformed from a material having a relatively smaller specific gravity.Thus, the housing 11 is heavier at the lower portion thereof than at thehigher portion, so that it can be installed stably on the floor surface2.

The photo compartment 16 is defined by the pair of side panels 13 and 14integrally joined to the rear panel 12, and the top panel 15. The areaextending between the front end of one (13) of the side panels 13 and 14and that of the other side panel 14 is an entrance 23 to the photocompartment 16. Thus, the entrance 23 can be made wider because it isdefined between the side panels 13 and 14 different in width from eachother. It is wide enough for a patient on a wheelchair to be able toeasily enter the photo compartment 16 for photography without having toget off the wheelchair once and take another position. As mentionedabove, the housing 11 does not have bottom plate. That is, the floorsurface 2 is the floor of the photo compartment 16 in itself. Therefore,at the entrance 23 to the photo compartment 16 in the photo booth 1,there is not any step which is found in the conventional photographicapparatus, so that even a patient sitting on a wheelchair or using anyother aid can readily enter the photo compartment 16 for photographywithout having to get off the wheelchair once and take another position.

The photo compartment 16 will be described in detail herebelow:

The photo compartment 16 has provided therein a chair 24 supportedpivotably on the wider side panel 14 and on which an object person sitsfor photography. In some cases, a patient sitting on a wheelchair orusing any other aid enters the photo compartment 16 through the entrance23. In this case, the chair 24 will be an obstacle to the patient. Onthis account, the chair 24 is designed to be folded onto the wider sidepanel 14. With the chair 24 turned to an out-of-use position, thepatient on the wheelchair can enter the photo compartment 16.

Also, the chair 24 has a seat nearly as high as that of the wheelchair.For a simplified mechanism, the photographic unit 17 is immobile. Itshould be noted that an object person, having the head at a height whennot sitting on a wheelchair, will have the head at a different heightwhen sitting on the wheelchair. On this account, the seat of the chair24 is nearly as high as that of the wheelchair so that when sitting onthe chair 24, a person not on any wheelchair will have the head at aheight generally equal to that at which a person sitting on a wheelchairwill have the head and the photographic unit 17, fixed in place, will beable to positively cover the face of an object person. It should benoted that next to the chair 24, there is provided a small shelf 25 onwhich the object person may put his bag or the like during photography.

The photo compartment 16 has a first wall 16 a formed to perpendicularto an optical axis L of the image pick-up unit 17 a of the photographicunit 17. In the photo compartment 16, a patient sitting on the chair 24or on a wheel chair will face the first wall 16 a. The generallyrectangular half-mirror 17 b included in the photographic unit 17 isprovided in a position where it will be opposite to the face of theobject person. The patient sitting on the chair 24 or a wheelchair canhave the face imaged by the photographic unit 17 while looking at theface in the half-mirror 17 b.

The photo compartment 16 has also second and third walls 16 b and 16 cprovided contiguously to the right and left ends, respectively, of thefirst wall 16 a thereof on which the half-mirror 17 b is provided. Eachof the second and third walls 16 b and 16 c forms an angle with thefirst wall 16 a in the direction toward the latter. The second and thirdwalls 16 b and 16 c have illuminating devices 26 and 27 providedthereon, respectively. Each of the illuminating devices 26 and 27illuminates the object person in the photo compartment 16. Eachilluminating device incorporates a light source which is turned on for aflash photography. Conventionally, the illuminating devices illuminatethe object person from the upper front. According to the presentinvention, however, the illuminating devices 26 and 27 illuminate theobject person obliquely from the front right and left of him or her.This is intended to prevent an difference in illumination between theforehead and chin of the object person's face, namely, between the upperand lower portions of the face while making wrinkles unnoticeable bypreventing the wrinkles from making their shadows.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the illuminating devices 26 and 27 are providedon the second and third walls 16 b and 16 c, respectively, so that aline connecting a center O₁ of the chair 24 and a center O₂ of theilluminating device 26 will form an angle θ₁ with the optical axis L ofthe image pick-up unit 17 a while a line connecting the center O₁ of thechair 24 and a center O₃ of the illuminating device 27 will form anangle θ₂ with the optical axis L. The angles θ₁ and θ₂ are set to assurethat the shadow on the object person's face will be smooth, no lightspots will result in images of eyeglasses put, if any, on the objectperson's face and no shadow will result on the image background. Theyshould preferably be with a range from 30 to 70 degrees, and morepreferably be 50 degrees.

Generally, a difference in illumination between the right and leftportions of the face will make clear features of a face image in aphoto. On this account, the illuminating devices 26 and 27 are soarranged as to illuminate the object person for such a difference inillumination between the right and left portions of the object person'sface. According to the present invention, the illuminating devices 26and 27 are arranged to illuminate the object person with a difference inillumination being within a range of 1:1.5 to 1:3, for example andpreferably 1:2. It should be noted that either of the illuminatingdevices 26 and 27 may be adapted to provide an intenser illumination.Thus, in a picture taken by this photo booth 1, the shadows can besmooth and any object person can be imaged to appear three-dimensional,not two-dimensional. It should also be noted that the photo booth 1according to the present invention uses a CCD as the image pick-up unit17 a in the photographic unit 17. The CCD is narrower in latitude than acamera using a silver filer (silver-film camera). Therefore, in thisphoto booth 1, the ratio of difference in illumination between the rightand left portions of an object person's face is set smaller than thatwith the silver-film camera.

Note that the effect of the above arrangement will be well confirmedfrom FIGS. 6 and 7. FIG. 6 shows a picture taken by illuminating theobject person obliquely from the upper front of him as in theconventional photographic apparatus, and FIG. 7 shows a picture taken byilluminating the object person obliquely from the front right and leftof him or her by the illuminating devices 26 and 27. As will be knownthrough comparison of these pictures, no noticeable images of wrinkleson the object person's face are found in the picture in FIG. 7. This isbecause the oblique illumination of the object person from the frontright and left of him or her as having been described above eliminatesthe difference in illumination between the upper and lower portions ofthe face and prevents the wrinkles from making their shadows.

Also note that the photo compartment 16 has provided therein, inaddition to the illuminating devices 26 and 27, an illuminating device28 destined to illuminate the object person from below. As shown, theilluminating device 28 is provided on an upper surface 28 b of aprotrusion 28 a provided on the first wall 16 a and below thehalf-mirror 17 b and which extends inwardly in the photo compartment 16.The illuminating device 28 is directed so that it will emit lightobliquely upward.

Also in the photo compartment 16, there is provided on one (13) of theside panels a fare box 29 facing an object person in the photocompartment 16 and which forms a part of the controller of the photobooth 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4. The fare box 29 is composed of a coinslot 29 a for receiving coins and a bill slot 29 b for receiving bills.These coin and bill slots 29 a and 29 b are provided at a height atwhich a person sitting on the chair 24 can easily put money into them.Since the seat of the chair 24 is as high as that of a wheelchair, evena person sitting on a wheelchair can easily put money into the fare box29.

Note that in this embodiment, although only the fare box 29 is providedas a part of the controller, a photography start button, a pre-printcheck button to check a picture taken by the photography before printingin the printer 18 or 19, etc. may be provided in addition. In this case,such buttons are provided on one (13) of the side panels to face everyobject person in the photo compartment 16.

Below the protrusion 28 a, there is a concavity 31 for positioning anobject person for photography. The positioning concavity 31 is designedsufficiently high to receive the knees of the object person sitting onthe chair 24 or on a wheelchair. An object person enters the photocompartment 16 and sits on the chair 24, or an object person sitting ona wheelchair enters the photo compartment 16 from the entrance 23, thenputs the knees into the positioning concavity 31, he or she can easilyposition himself or herself for photography. That is, by putting theknees into the positioning concavity 31, the object person will directhimself correctly to the half-mirror 17 b.

Further, the photo compartment 16 has provided therein an objectdetector 32 to detect whether an object person has entered the photocompartment 16. The object detector 32 is fixed to the top panel 15 justabove the chair 24, and detects an object person is in place forphotography. When the object detector 32 detects an object person, itsupplies a detection signal to the control circuit in the main circuitboard 21, and the control circuit switches the mode of operation fromstandby to photography.

Note that the object detector 32 may be provided inside theaforementioned positioning concavity 31. In case the object detector 32is provided on the top panel 15, it will detect an object person evenwhen he or she is not just in place for photography, for example when heis just standing inside the photo compartment 16. On the contrary, incase the object detector 32 is provided inside the positioning concavity31, it will be able to detect an object person precisely in place forphotography because it can only detect the object person having theknees put inside the positioning concavity 31.

In a portion of the top panel 15, corresponding to the entrance 23 tothe photo compartment, there is provided a curtain rail or hook (notshown) from which a shading curtain 33 is suspended. The entrance 23 canthus be opened and closed by the curtain 33. The curtain 33 caneffectively block light to prevent light from incidence into the photocompartment 16 during photography.

As shown in FIG. 8, the above curtain 33 can freely be moved for easyentrance to the photo compartment 16. Also, a vertical slit 33 a isformed in a portion of the curtain 33. The side of the curtain 33, beingat the photo compartment 16 and at the back of the object person, willprovide a background in a picture to be taken. The slit 33 a is formedin other than the background-forming area of the curtain 33. It shouldbe noted that the shading member may be any other material than thecurtain 33, for example, a plate or the like,

As mentioned above, the front end face of the side panel 13 narrowerthan the side panel 14 provides one end of the entrance 23. A firsthandrail 34 is vertically installed to the front end face of the sidepanel 13 at an appropriate height. The first handrail 34 will be an aidfor a handicapped one such as a patient using axially crutches orsitting on a wheelchair when entering the photo compartment 16 from theentrance 23. Also, the front end face of the side panel 14 wider thanthe side panel 13 provides the opposite end of the entrance 23. A secondhandrail 35 is vertically installed to the front end face of the sidepanel 14 at an upper portion. This second handrail 35 is to be used by apatient using axially crutches, for example, when entering the photocompartment 16 from the entrance 23. Further, a third handrail 36 ishorizontally installed to the side panel 14 at nearly the same height asthe top of the fare box 29 forming a part of the controller. This thirdhandrail 36 can be used by an object person sitting on the chair 24 or aperson sitting on a wheelchair, for example, to easily repositionhimself or herself. It should be noted that on the outer side of thenarrow side panel 13, there is provided a photo outlet 38 to which apicture printed out by the printer 18 or 19 is ejected.

As will be seen from FIGS. 9 to 11, the chair 24 is installed to thewider side panel 14 via a pivoting support mechanism, generallyindicated with a reference number 40. The pivoting support mechanism 40includes a chair mount member 41 to which the chair 24 is installed. Thechair mount member 41 is pivotably installed via a pivot 43 to apivoting support 42 formed at one end thereof integrally with the sidepanel 14. The chair mount member 41 has provided beneath the chair 24 achair support member 44 which supports the chair 24.

The chair support member 44 supports the chair 24 on which an objectperson sits. The chair support member 44 has provided at one end thereofa support 44 a which touches the bottom of the photo compartment 16,namely, the floor surface 2, and is pivotably installed to the chairmounting member 41 via a pivot 45. It should be noted that the chair 24is provided at the side thereof, opposite to the side panel 14, with alever 24 a which is to be operated when turning the chair 24 toward theside panel 13. Since the lever 24 a is provided at the side of the chair24, opposite to the narrower side panel 13, it is easy to operate forturning the chair 24.

The chair mount member 41 and chair support member 44 are connected toeach other via a linkage 46. The linkage 46 is pivotably installed atone end thereof to the side of the chair support member 44, opposite tothe chair 24, for example, via a pivot 47. The linkage 46 has engagementprojections 49 formed at the other end thereof. The engagementprojections 49 are engaged in guide holes 48 formed in the chair mountmember 41.

The linkage 46 moves, when pivoting the chair 24, the chair supportmember 44 to an in-use position where the chair support member 44supports the chair 24, namely, where it is generally perpendicular tothe floor surface 2, and also to an out-of-use position where the chairsupport member 44 is held generally parallel to the side wall 14.

More particularly, when the chair 24 is in place for use, the linkage 46holds the chair support member 44 generally perpendicularly to the floorsurface 2 (in-use position) with the engagement projections 49 being atone ends of the guide holes 48. When the chair 24 is pivoted from theplace for use, the engagement projections 49 move along the guide holes48 to the other ends of the latter. Thus, the chair support member 44 isturned about the pivot 45 in one direction and becomes nearly parallelto the side panel 14 and chair 24 (out-of-use position).

Also, the chair mount member 41 is connected to the side panel 14 via adamper 51. The damper 51 is pivotably installed at one end thereof onthe chair mount member 41 via a pivot 52, and at the other end at apivot 53 a on a support 53 provided below the pivoting support 42 on theside panel 14. The damper 51 slows down the movement of the chair 24being pivoted.

Further, the side panel 14 has provided thereon a holding mechanism 54to hold the chair 24 in the out-of-use position. The holding mechanism54 has a catch 56 installed to a fixture 55 provided integrally on theside panel 14. The catch 56 is supported at the middle thereof on thefixture 55 pivotably by a pivot 57. It has formed at one end thereof anengagement projection 58 which engages on the chair 24 and at the otherend a presser 60 which presses a sensor 59 which detects that the chair24 is in the out-of-use position.

Also, the catch 56 has fixed thereto one end of a spring 62 which isfixed at the other end thereof to a retainer 61 fixed to the side panel14. Thus, the spring 62 forces the catch 56 downward, namely, in adirection for the engagement protection 58 to engage on the chair 24.

The pivoting support mechanism 40 constructed as above functions as willbe described herebelow:

When the chair 24 is set in the in-use position in the photo compartment16, the linkage 46 has the engagement projections 49 thereof placed atone ends of the guide holes 48 and the chair support member 44 isgenerally perpendicular to the floor surface 2, as shown in FIG. 8. Thatis, the chair support member 44 supports the chair 24. For allowing apatient or the like sitting on a wheelchair to enter the photocompartment 16, the chair 24 will be an obstacle to the patient and hasto be turned to the out-of-use position. In this case, the patient holdsand pivots the lever 24 a in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 10 to turnthe chair 24. As the chair 24 is thus pivoted, the engagementprojections 49 of the linkage 46 will gradually move from the one endsof the guide holes 48 toward the other ends.

Thus, the chair support member 44 is turned about the pivot 45 in thedirection of arrow B as shown in FIG. 10. When the chair 24 has beenturned to a position nearly parallel to the side panel 14, it will becaught by the engagement projection 58 of the catch 56 of the holdingmember 54, as shown in FIG. 11. Thus, the chair 24 is held in theout-of-use position generally parallel to the side panel 14. At thistime, the catch 56 will be pressed by the chair 24 and turned about thepivot 57 against the force of the spring 62.

At this time, the chair 24 can be turned slowly and gently due to thedamper 51. The presser 60 of the catch 56 will press the sensor 59 whichwill thus detect that the chair 24 is precisely in the out-of-useposition. It should be noted that since the engagement projection 58 isforced by the spring 62 in the direction for catching the chair 24, thecatch 56 will be able to securely lock the chair 24 and hold the latterin the out-of-use position.

Note that for use of the chair 24, the holding member 56 should beturned about the pivot 57 to disengage the engagement projection 58 fromthe chair 24. Thus, the chair 24 will be allowed to be pivotable in thedirection of arrow A in FIG. 10, and the engagement projections 49 ofthe linkage 46 move from the other ends of the guide holes 48 to the oneends so that the chair support member 44 will be turned about the pivot45 in the direction of arrow B in FIG. 10 from the out-of-use positionto the in-use position.

Next, the control circuit incorporated in the main circuit board 21 orthe like built in the rear panel 12 will be described with reference toFIG. 12. The control circuit, generally indicated with a referencenumber 70, includes a ROM (read-only memory) 71 having stored therein aprogram and the like necessary for operation of the apparatus, a programstorage 72 having stored therein an application program and the likenecessary for operation of the apparatus, such as a hard disk or thelike, a RAM (random-access memory) 73 which is loaded with programs fromthe ROM 71 and program storage 72, a billing unit 74 which makes anaccounting by judging a money having been put in the fare box 29, asound output 75 to provide a voice data, a speaker 76 to provide thevoice data as an audible sound, a drive 77 in which an external storageunit is set, and a CPU (central processing unit) 78 which provides asystem control, all these components being connected to each other via abus 79.

Also, the bus 79 has connected thereto an image pickup-unit 17 aincluded in the photographic unit 17, the illuminating devices 26, 27and 28, the object detector 32 to detect whether an object person hasentered the photo compartment 16, the sensor 59 to detect that the chair24 is in the out-of-use position, etc.

The photo booth 1 is constructed as above functions as will be describedbelow with reference to FIG. 13:

In step S1, the CPU 78 judges whether the chair 24 is in the out-of-useposition, namely, whether the chair 24 is generally parallel to the sidepanel 14 and a wheelchair can enter the photo compartment 16.

More particularly, the CPU 78 detects whether the sensor 59 included inthe pivoting support mechanism 40 is pressed to turn on by the presser60 of the holding member 56. When the CPU 78 determines that the chair24 is not in the out-of-use position, namely, that the chair 24 is setin place in the photo compartment 16, it goes to step S2 where it willget into a normal mode, namely, a photography mode, that is, it willjudge whether an object person is sitting on the chair 24. When the CPU78 determines that the chair 24 is in the out-of-use position, it goesto step S9 where it will get into a wheelchair-only mode. When in thiswheelchair-only mode, the CPU 78 will set a longer time up to aphotography because positioning of a person on a wheelchair forphotography takes a long time as compared with that of a person notusing any wheelchair.

When in the normal mode, the CPU 78 judges in step S2 whether an objectperson is positioned in place for photography. That is, the objectdetector 32, formed from an infrared sensor or the like, detects whetherthe object person is in place for photography, namely, whether he or sheis sitting on the chair 24 with the knees put in the positioningconcavity 31. When the object detector 32 detects that the object personis in place for photography, the CPU 78 goes to step S3. On thecontrary, when the object detector 32 detects that the object person isnot in place for photography, the CPU 78 will go back to step S2 andrepeat the due operation.

In step S3, the CPU 78 prompts, via the sound output 75, the objectperson to put a due fare into the fare box 29. More specifically, thesound output 75 provides a message like “Please put fare money into thefare box” as an audible sound from the speaker 76.

Then, the object person will put a due money into the fare box 29. Atthis time, he or she can easily put the money into the fare box 29 whilesitting on the chair or a wheelchair because the fare box 29 is locatedfor easy access from him or her. Also, since the fare box 29 is providedat the side panel 13, even an attendant standing by the side of theobject person or not near the fare box 29 can have an easy access to itby stretching the hand from at the entrance 23 to put the money into thefare box 29.

In step S4, the CPU 78 judges whether the due money has been put intothe fare box 29. More particularly, the billing unit 74 determines themoney having been put into the fare box 29. If the money isinsufficient, the billing unit 74 operates to request the object personto put the shortage into the fare box 29. When the money is excessive,the billing unit 74 operates to return the excess (changes) to theobject person.

Then the billing unit 74 signals the CPU 78 that the billing oraccounting is complete. The CPU 78 will judge whether the billing isover. If the billing is not yet complete, the CPU 78 returns to step S3where it will prompt the object person again to put the fare into thefare box 29.

In step S5, the CPU 78 gives a photography starting message to theobject person via the sound output 75. For example, the sound output 75provides a message like “Now, photography will start” as an audiblesound from the speaker 76.

A predetermined time later, the CPU 78 will put the image pick-up unit17 a into action to start a photography of the object person in step S6.When thus driven by the CPU 78, the image pick-up unit 17 a willphotoelectrically convert captured light and provide the electric signalas an output. At this time, each of the illuminating devices 26, 27 and28 turns on its light source. Since the illuminating devices 26 and 27are arranged to illuminate the object person obliquely from the frontright and left of him or her, a photography can be made with nodifference in illumination between the forehead and chin of the objectperson's face, namely, between the upper and lower portions of the face,and with the facial wrinkles making no shadow. Also, since theilluminating devices 26 and 27 are arranged to illuminate the objectperson for a difference in illumination to be take place between theright and left portions of the object person's face, the picture thustaken will appear three-dimensional with less shadows.

In step S7, the CPU 78 gives a photography end message to the objectperson via the sound output 75. For example, the sound output 75provides a message like “Now, photography is over” as an audible soundfrom the speaker 76.

In step S8, the CPU 78 supplies the data output from the image pick-upunit 17 a to the first printer 18 or second printer 19 which will printan image onto a photographic paper on the basis of the input data. Then,the first printer 18 or second printer 19 will eject the image-printedphotographic paper to the photo outlet 38.

Note that if the CPU 78 has determined in step S1 that the chair 24 isin the out-of-use position, it will get into the wheelchair-only mode,and perform operations in steps S9 to S14. Since these operations insteps S9 to S14 are the same as those in aforementioned steps S2 to S6,they will not be explained herein.

It should be noted however that a photography made in step S13 takes atime, from announcement of the start of a photography in step in S12until the photography itself starts, longer than that taken by thephotography in step S6. This is because the time taken for preparationof a photography of an object person sitting on a wheelchair willinevitably be longer than that for an object person not setting on anywheelchair.

The drive 77 can have loaded therein a removable recording medium 80such as a recordable or rewritable optical disk, magneto-optical disk,magnetic disk, IC card or the like. Image data on an object person,captured by the photographic unit 17, is stored in the removablerecording medium 80. The image data stored in the removable recordingmedium 80 can be read by any other appropriate information processingapparatus, for example, and used as a facial portrait of a patient in anelectronic medical card. In addition to recording into the removablerecording medium 80, such patient's image data may be sent to the aboveinformation processing apparatus via a transmitter/receiver connected toa network such as LAN (local area network) or the like.

Further, the drive 77 may be adapted to install an application programnecessary for operation of the photo booth 1 into the program storage 72by loading therein a removable recording medium 80 such as a ROM typeoptical disk. Of course, the program may be downloaded via thetransmitter/receiver and installed into the program storage 72.

Since the photo booth 1 constructed as above is flush at the bottom ofthe photo compartment 16 with the floor surface 2, there is no step atthe entrance to the photo compartment 16 and thus even a patient on awheelchair or the like can enter the photo compartment 16 without havingto get off the wheelchair once and take another position. Also the photobooth 1 is to be installed in a hospital or the like and so the possibleuses thereof will include not only a normal person but also a personsitting on a wheelchair and a person using axillary crutches. Thewheelchair or axially crutches of such a person may possibly collidewith the side panels when entering the photo compartment 16 from theentrance 23. On this account, one (14) of the side panels 13 and 14 isformed wider than the other (13), the narrower side panel 13 is fixed tothe floor surface 2 with the overturn-preventive member 22, the toppanel 15 is formed from the material smaller in specific gravity thanthose for the side panels 13 and 14 so that the photo booth 1 can beassembled with the center of gravity thereof being placed in a lowerposition. Even if the user of the photo booth 1 collides with any of theside panels when entering the photo compartment 16 and an impact is thusapplied to the photo booth 1, the latter can be prevented from beingdisplaced or turned over.

Further, the first to three handrails 34 to 36 will facilitate enteringthe photo compartment 16 and positioning for photography.

Further, in the photo booth 1, the chair 24 can be moved to theout-of-use position in the photo compartment 16. Therefore, with thechair 24 folded as having been described in the foregoing, the patienton a wheelchair can enter the photo compartment 16 without having to getoff the wheelchair once and take any other position. When set in placein the photo compartment 16, the chair 24 is securely supported on thechair support member 44 and a person such as a patient or the like cansit stable on the chair 24.

Also, when the chair 24 is folded for movement to the out-of-useposition, the lever 24 a provided to be opposite to the narrower sidepanel 13 will face the entrance 23, so that the patient on a wheelchairor an attendant for the patient can easily turn the chair. 24 forfolding to the out-of-use position by operating the lever 24 a. Also,since the fare box 29 is located near the side panel 13, namely, nearthe entrance 23, the attendant can easily reach the fare box 29 to putthe due money into the fare box 29.

In the photographic box 1, since the illuminating devices 26 and 27 arearranged to illuminate the object person obliquely from the front rightand left of him or her, a photography can be made with no difference inillumination between the forehead and chin of the object person's face,namely, between the upper and lower portions of the face, and with theshadows of facial wrinkles being not captured. Also, since theilluminating devices 26 and 27 are arranged to illuminate the objectperson for a difference in illumination to be take place between theright and left portions of the object person's face, the picture thustaken will appear three-dimensional with less shadows.

Further in the photo booth 1, when the chair 24 is turned to a positionwhere it is generally parallel to the wider side panel 14 in the photocompartment 16, the CPU 78 gets into the wheelchair-only mode and sets alonger time for a preparation for photography from the step ofphotography start announcement until the step of photography itself.Generally, the preparation of a photography will take a longer time foran object person sitting on a wheelchair than that for an object personnot setting on any wheelchair. That is, in the wheelchair-only mode, thepreparation of a photography can be done for a sufficient length oftime.

The embodiment of the present invention has been described concerningthe example in which the chair 24 is folded or pivoted vertically.However, the chair 24 may be arranged to be pivoted horizontally bymeans of another pivoting support mechanism. More specifically, thepivoting support mechanism, generally indicated with a reference number90 in FIGS. 14 and 15, includes a chair mount member 92 supported on apivot 91 provided vertically in the wider side panel to be pivotableabout the pivot 91. Also, the side panel 14 has formed therein a cut 93extending from a place where the pivot 91 is provided toward the frontend of the side panel. The cut 93 can receive therein the chair 24 andchair support member 92 turned from the in-use position.

Because of the pivoting support mechanism 90, the chair 24 can be turnedhorizontally between a position where an object person can sit on thechair 24 and a position where the chair 24 is not used. In thisout-of-use position, the chair 24 can be moved out of the photocompartment 16. Thus, the pivoting support mechanism 90 is similarlyeffective to the pivoting support mechanism 40.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been described concerningthe photo booth 1 which is to be installed in a hospital or the like.However, the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment butit is applicable to an identification picture-oriented photographicapparatus to be installed at a street corner or a photographic apparatusto be installed in a game parlor or the like, for example. Because ofthe features of the present invention, any handicapped person will beable to easily use the photographic apparatus installed at a streetcorner or in a game parlor.

In the foregoing, the present invention has been described in detailconcerning certain preferred embodiments thereof as examples withreference to the accompanying drawings. However, it should be understoodby those ordinarily skilled in the art that the present invention is notlimited to the embodiments but can be modified in various manners,constructed alternatively or embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit thereof as set forth and defined inthe appended claims.

Industrial Applicability

In the photographic apparatus having been described in the foregoing,since one of the side panels defining the photo compartment is narrowerthan the other, the entrance to the photo compartment can be assured tobe wider and the bottom of the photo compartment is generally flush withthe floor surface, any person sitting on a wheelchair, using axillarycrutches or using any other aid can easily enter the photo compartmentfor photography of himself or herself.

1. A photographic apparatus comprising: a housing formed from a pair ofside panels and a top panel provided between the side panels and havinga photo compartment defined therein; a photographic means installed atthe rear side of the housing for taking a picture of an object insidethe photo compartment; a printing means installed on the housing forprinting the object image captured by the photographic means onto aphotographic paper and ejecting the object image-printed photographicpaper to an outlet; and a light-blocking member installed by hanging tothe top panel at the front side, opposite to the rear side of thehousing, the housing being formed generally flush with a floor surfaceon which the apparatus is to be installed, wherein the photo compartmentin the housing is open at the bottom thereof and closed by the floorsurface.
 2. The photographic apparatus as set forth in claim 1, whereinone side panel has installed thereon an overturn preventive material forfixing the side panel to the floor surface.
 3. The photographicapparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein one side panel has installedthereon a chair for an object person removable to an out-of-use positionin the photo compartment.
 4. The photographic apparatus as set forth inclaim 3, wherein the chair is vertically pivotable to the out-of-useposition where it is generally parallel to the other side panel.
 5. Thephotographic apparatus as set forth in claim 3, wherein the chair ishorizontally pivotable to the out-of-use position where it is out of thephoto compartment.
 6. The photographic apparatus as set forth in claim1, wherein at the lower portion of the photographic means, there isprovided a positioning concavity for positioning the object forphotography.
 7. The photographic apparatus as set forth in claim 1,wherein the housing is provided with a handrail.
 8. The photographicapparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein the photo compartment hasprovided therein a detecting means for detecting that the object hasentered the photo compartment through an entrance.
 9. A photographicapparatus comprising: a housing formed from a pair of side panels and atop panel provided between the side panels and having a photocompartment defined therein; a photographic means installed at the rearside of the housing for taking a picture of an object inside the photocompartment; a printing means installed on the housing for printing theobject image captured by the photographic means onto a photographicpaper and ejecting the object image-printed photographic paper to anoutlet; and a light-blocking member installed by hanging to the toppanel at the front side, opposite to the rear side of the housing, thehousing being formed generally flush with a floor surface on which theapparatus is to be installed. wherein the light-blocking member servesas a background of the object during photography and has a generallyvertical slit formed in other portion thereof than the portion whichprovides the background.